While you are in F-1 status, you are permitted to leave the U.S. and re-enter in F-1 status provided you present the required documentation. If you intend to re-enter the U.S. and continue your full-time course of study, you must always be admitted to the U.S. in F-1 status. This section provides detailed information on the requirements for traveling outside the United States and re-entering in F-1 status. The following topics are addressed:
Please note that if you are sponsored by a program other than UNK, i.e. IREX, MAUI, you should discuss your status and any travel requirements with your program sponsor.
Documents Required for Re-entry in F-1 Status**
Students are required to carry the following documents to re-enter the U.S. as an F-1 student. We encourage you to use this section as a checklist to ensure that you have everything you need to successfully re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status.
___ Passport valid for at least 6 months into the future: Some countries have the expiration dates of the passports automatically extended for 6 months based on an agreement with the U.S. If your country of citizenship is on this list, you may enter the U.S. using your passport until its actual expiration date. Check here to see if your country is on the list. If your passport will expire, contact your country consulate located in the USA.
Canadian citizens do not require an entry visa to enter the U.S. from Canada, but DO require an I-20. All Canadian citizens entering the U.S. are required to show a passport.
___ Unexpired F-1 visa valid for further entries: You should always be aware of the expiration date and the number of entries allowed on your visa. Most visas have "M" written under entries. This means you can use your visa for multiple entries. If your visa is expired or you have already used the number of entries you are allowed, you will need to apply for a new F-1 visa in order to re-enter the U.S.
___ Valid I-20 signed each semester for which you will return to the U.S. Travel signatures are on page 3 of the I-20. It indicates that you are maintaining valid F-1 status. Only staff at the ISS Office is authorized by the Department of Homeland Security to sign your I-20.
The ISS Office can only sign your I-20 for travel if you are maintaining valid F-1 status. Continuing students will be required to show updated funding documentation to have their I-20 updated if changes are required. You must plan ahead to get your I- 20 signed before you leave the country. Request travel endorsements for your I-20 at least five business days prior to your departure.
If you will be outside the U.S. for more than 5 months, please see Extended Stays Outside the U.S.
This office also recommends that you carry the following documents with you. It is possible that an immigration officer could ask you for these documents.
___ Proof of full-time enrollment. You can print out a copy of your registration history from MyBlue
Obtaining a New F-1 Visa
If your entry visa has expired and your travel does not qualify for visa revalidation, you must apply for a new visa at an American consulate before re-entering the U.S. Entry visas can only be issued outside the United States. We recommend that you apply for the new visa in your home country. We recommend that you first contact the U.S. consulate in the country where you will be traveling to confirm that they will review your application. It is possible they would refuse to do so and ask you to travel to your home country for a new visa. You should also be prepared for potential delays in visa issuance. A list of visa wait times is available on the Department of State website.
When you go to the consulate, you will need to bring your passport, I-20, financial documentation, and proof of full-time enrollment, as well as any other documents requested by the consulate.
If you have ever overstayed your authorized stay (as noted on your I-94 card) in the United States, you will be required to return to your home country to apply for a new entry visa.
Travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean
If you are traveling only to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean (except Cuba and Bermuda) for fewer than thirty days, you may return to the U.S. with an expired F-1 entry visa in your passport. To qualify for this privilege, you must:
- Be in lawful F-1 status.
- Have an unexpired I-94 card indicating your F-1 status in your passport when you enter the U.S. Do not surrender the I-94 card when you leave the U.S. If you do, you will not be eligible for visa revalidation.
- Have a current signed I-20 in your possession.
- Have a passport valid at least six months into the future on the day you return to the U.S.
- Travel only to one of the destinations named above and for fewer than thirty days. For example, you cannot use automatic revalidation to enter Canada, depart to another country, return to Canada, and then return to the U.S. within 30 days.
- Not apply for a U.S. visa while in Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. If you apply for a U.S. entry visa during your visit to one of these destinations, you must wait for it to be issued before you return. If your visa application is denied by the American consulate, you are not allowed to use automatic revalidation to return to the U.S. You will be required to travel to your country of citizenship to apply for a new visa.
- Have a F-1 visa (expired or valid) in your passport or an approval notice for change of status to F-1 and the invalid visa of your previous non-immigrant status in your passport.
- Be a citizen of a country other than Syria, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, North Korea, Cuba, or Libya. Nationals of these countries are not eligible for visa revalidation. If you are a national of one of the above countries, you must always have a valid visa in your passport to enter the United States.
Travel for Canadian Students
Canadian citizens do not require an entry visa to enter the U.S. from Canada, but DO require an I-20. All Canadian citizens are required to show a passport to enter the United States.
Those entering the U.S. to study should request F-1 status at the border and must always show the Form I-20 and supporting financial documentation to the immigration inspector at the port of entry. Be sure to check your I-94 card before you leave the inspection area to ensure that the I-94 card was properly notated with F-1, D/S. Often, your I-94 card will not be removed from your passport when you leave the U.S., and you will not receive a new one when you re-enter. This is not a problem. Just be aware that if the I-94 card is removed, you must get a new one with the F-1 notation when you re-enter.
Travel while on Post-completion Optional Practical Training
The entry requirements while you are on OPT are similar to the requirements while you are a student; however, you will need to show some additional documentation. The Department of Homeland Security allows for re-entry while on OPT "to resume employment after a temporary absence".
All individuals who have applied for post-completion OPT must carry the following documents:
___ Passport valid for 6 months into the future
___ Valid F-1 entry visa, unless using visa revalidation
___ I-20 signed within past 6 months. Note : once on OPT, signatures are valid for only 6 months.
** See Documents Required for Re-entry in F-1 Status for document descriptions.
If you have applied for OPT, but not yet received the EAD, you must also carry the following:
___ Original receipt notice issued by the Service Center confirming your request for OPT.
If your OPT has been approved, you must also carry the following:
___ EAD card
___ Letter from employer confirming that you are employed or have been offered employment. Please note: this letter must be for the duration of your OPT and not for a permanent position.
The guidance from DHS states that if an individual has been approved for OPT and leaves the U.S. prior to receiving a job offer, the OPT authorization ends. If you are planning to leave the U.S. and do not have all of the required documentation, please speak with an advisor at the ISS Office.
If you require a new entry visa while on OPT, be aware that there is no guarantee that you are eligible for one. You are required to establish non-immigrant intent every time you apply for a non-immigrant visa. This may be harder to establish when you are working rather than studying. If you have an expired F-1 entry visa, speak with an ISS Office advisor BEFORE planning a trip abroad.
Extended Stays Outside the U.S.
If you leave the U.S. and do not register during the normal academic year for your program, your record in the SEVIS database will be terminated.
Travel within the United States - In general, special permission is not required to travel within the U.S. We recommend that you carry your passport, I-94 card, and I-20 with you whenever you travel outside the UNK or Kearney.
Travel to a Third Country - When traveling to a third country (a country other than the U.S. or your home country), you are responsible for knowing whether you need an entry visa for that country. Travel to Canada and Mexico is common from the U.S.
Canadian visas - Persons from many countries are required to obtain a Canadian entry visa when entering Canada from the U.S. Consult the Canadian Consulate General for visa regulations concerning your country before making travel arrangements.
Mexican visas - Tourist cards or visas may be required for travel to Mexico. Check before you leave
Travel for Dependents
Entry requirements for dependents are essentially the same as those of F-1 visas. Each dependent must carry his/her original I-20. If traveling separately from the principal visa holder, dependents should also carry a photocopy of the F-1's visa, I-94 card, and I-20. Note that if F-2 status was obtained through a change of status application, the F-2 will not be issued an F-2 entry visa unless the student has already obtained an F-1 entry visa.
Entry document checklist for dependents:
___ Passport valid for at least 6 months into the future
___ Valid F-2 entry visa
___ I-20 recertified on page 3 within the last 12 months
___ Photocopies of the principal visa holder's passport, I-94 card, and I-20
** See Documents Required for Re-entry in F-1 Status for document descriptions.
US-VISIT
US-VISIT is a program recently implemented by DHS to track individuals entering and leaving the U.S. As part of the process, you will have your photograph and fingerprint taken when you enter the U.S. See more information on US-VISIT entry procedures.
Exit procedures for US-VISIT are still being developed and implemented at airports throughout the U.S. If you see a US-VISIT kiosk in the airport terminal where you are departing, you must complete the exit procedure.